Tag: Jake Ricketts

It was another Fruit Boot Shootout event, this time The FBSO Pork pie pud slides Melton Mowbray massacre out in the sun, making the most of our Great British Summer ™. As is customary with these events it was first and foremost a session. An excuse to get together and skate. Once the midair collisions were over and the ambulance left with the first (and thankfully only) casualty of the day that’s how it turned out. As Glenn departed with a second head growing from where the first impacted the concrete everyone else, glad to see him walking unaided got back to the matter at hand – finding the lines to be had at this little outdoor park.

It seems that lines were found as you can see above. After a few hours of rolling the smooth curves and banks of this particular location prizes were given for best trick and best overall skater. Both going to Jake Ricketts for his exemplary performance all day.

A change to the organisation this year but a familiar feel to what is an established and friendly annual event at The House skatepark. As Noiya were not holding the reins this year it was picked up by Bobby Smith and the local crew of Forged From Steel. A wholly appropriate moniker for such a down to earth skate session and competition. With an impressive $950 in the prize pot and a load of extra goodies shared between the 2 classes and best trick, many turned up for the event but went that extra mile for the prizes.

On the back of a few popular events came the first Fruit Boot Shootout and it was another great day out. Held at The Asylum Skatepark in Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire there were visitors from all over the UK and beyond. What I was glad to see was the skaters that turned up just to enjoy the day and the competition was the excuse to come down, not the reason. So many skaters old and new just skating to have fun at an amazing park with so many lines.

Well, as usual I had the camera out so took some shots. I also grabbed a handful of clips and if I put together a few of them into a mini edit I’ll add that below too.

Again I packed up my camera gear to head down to Barry for the weekend; remembering a legend, an inspiration and above a remarkably decent human being. It’s ten years since we lost Rich Taylor and yet again we get together to celebrate the legacy of one who touched so many lives by attending the Richard Taylor Trophy event.

This year the competition was held indoor at the Spit and Sawdust park in Cardiff, South Wales. The second day was intended to be a more chilled session at the Knapp skatepark in Rich’s home town of Barry. However due to the park being temporarily closed for repairs and with the weather unpredictable, it was swapped for a Slip’n’Slide session down the hills overlooking the beach.

The Results:

Under 16
1st Jordan Ward
2nd Tom Bellamy
3rd Joe Hughes

Open
1st Tesharn Febz
2nd Andrew Speed
3rd “Barney”

Them wot can
1st Blake Bird
2nd Jake Ricketts
3rd Sam Davis

For those who couldn’t make it, Mark Worner put together an edit from the comp:

I want to say a huge thanks to Rob and Gaynor for the hospitality. To Riddick for getting us back from Cardiff after someone got far too drunk. To everyone who arranged or helped out with the comp, who turned up, who came out partying. You all helped make this one of the best events, and weekend in general I’ve ever attended.

So, I finally got around to sorting through the photos from the Noiya Jam at The House Skatepark a few weeks back. I’m afraid I missed the Open comp almost entirely and arrived just in time for the Experts to start. As a result I don’t have too many shots. I hope you enjoy what I did manage to shoot though.

Well, it was a few dates around the North of England for the Roll Kings team on their “Winter Splinter” tour this November. With a different skatepark each consecutive night it was a battle but most came out alive. I even got photos and they have finally been sorted, processed and uploaded. They are all in one gallery but they are spread over three nights, at The Asylum, Bones III and The Arc. All parks that you need to visit if you haven’t already.

As is occasionally the way, I didn’t manage to make it down to the skatepark early enough to get a roll myself, but I thought that as I was there it would be rude not to grab a few shots. So, I just headed over to the bowl for the last hour of the session with a couple of flashes and caught whatever was occurring…